Apparatus for compressing air



Jan. 7,-1941.- J. 'RETSEMA APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING AIR Filed July 10,, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fjczj.

Jan. 7, 1941. J. RETSEMA APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING AIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1.940

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Patented Jan. 7, 1941 siren STATES PATENT D'FFICE APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSIN G AIR Application July 10-, 1940, Serial No. 344,681 7 Claims. (01. 230-4) My invention is an improvement over that shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,659,290 granted February 14, 1928, to George W. Gille for Apparatus for compressing air.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction, arrangement and method of operation herein disclosed.

In said drawings: Fig. I is an end elevation of an apparatus conveniently embodying 'my'invention.

Fig. II is an end elevation of the valve casing shown in Fig. I as seen from the opposite end thereof.

Fig. III is a longitudinal sectional view of said valve casing taken on the line III, III in Figs. '1 and II.

Referring to Fig, I my invention is adapted to be used in conjunction with an air compressor, indicated by the dotted circle I, and of any conventional and well-known design, provided with an after cooler, condenser, outlet conduit 2 connected to the check valve 6 which is connected by the conduit I with the air storage tank 8; The check valve 6 conveniently is illustrated as of the construction shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,192,258 granted March 5, 1940, to Chandler, but it is to be understood that a check valve of any conventional type may be used.

Said conduit I has the upwardly extending branch 1 connected to and supporting the pressure controlled switch mechanism in the housing 4, including a switch of a conventional diaphragm type, such as shown in said Gille or Chandler patents. Said switch mechanism in the housing 4, being subjected to the pressure in the tank 8 through the conduits I and I, opens and closes the circuit to an electric motor which op- .erates the air compressor I when predetermined pressures are reached in the tank 8.

Said check valve 6 has the bleeder conduit in continual communication with the outlet conduit 2 of the compressor I. As shown in said Gille patent, the switch mechanism within the housing 4 includes means whereby closure of the motor circuit contemporaneously closes a valve to prevent communication between the bleeder conduit 5 and the condensate drain outlet conduit 3 connected to the valve casing I2; and opening of the motor circuit contemporaneously opens that switch controlled valve to establish communication between the conduits 5 and 3.

The tank 8 is conveniently provided with a r plurality of supporting legs 9 resting upon the supporting surface I I] and has the dispensing outlet connection II, located in any convenient place.

The valve casing I2 is conveniently provided with the solid supporting bar I3, the outer end 5 of which, as shown in Figs. II and III, is screwed into a cross fitting in said conduit I, to support said casing I2. The single valve casing I2 includes three chambers, comprising first, the diaphragm chamber I5 having a fluid inlet I6for 10 condensate and air; second, the valve chamber I! having the fluid inlet I8 for condensate and air; third, the condensate discharge chamber I9 having the continually open condensate exhaust outlet 20. The condensate drain outlet conduit 3, shown in Fig. I extending from the lower portion of the switch housing 4, is connected to the diaphragm chamber inlet I6. The condensate drain outlet conduit 22 shown in Fig, I extends from the bottom of the storage tank 8 to the inlet I8 of the valve chamber I I. The flexible diaphragm 24 shown in Fig. III separates the diaphragm chamber I5 from the condensate discharge chamber I9 in casing I2, which is conveniently formed of two cup-shaped sections, 12 25 and I2 rigidly connected through diaphragm 2% by a circular series of eight screws 25 shown in Fig. II; so that the diaphragm seals the joint between the opposed annular rims of said sections, which hold its perimeter.

Casing I2 includes two fluid ports, via, first,

the port 26 from the diaphragm chamber I5 to the condensate discharge chamber I9 and, second, the port 21 extending from the valve chamber II to the condensate discharge chamber I9. The effective area of said first port 26 may be variably limited by the needle valve 29 which is open and normally stationary but adjustable in the screw threaded bearing 36 in said casing I2. I have found it convenient to provide said valve 29 with the screw-driver slot 3| at its outer end, by which its axial adjustment may be efiected, and as indicated in Fig. II, I provide the set screw 32 in threaded engagement with the casing I2 to impinge upon the smooth cylindrical portion 33 of valve 29 in the bearing 30, to hold the valve in adjusted position.

I provide the valve seat 35 in valve chamber I! around port 21, for the poppet valve 36 which has the stem 31 extending through port 21 in cooperative relation to the diaphragm 24. Poppet valve 36 is continually stressed toward its closed position shown in Fig. III by spring 38 which is conveniently supported at its outer end in the screw plug 39 which forms a closure for the outer end of the valve chamber l1, and is seated upon the gasket 4|].

Said diaphragm 24 is conveniently formed of rubber and reinforced at its axis by the plane metal disk 4| held in place by the axial stud 42 which extends through said disk and through the concavo-convex disk 43 which is continually stressed toward the diaphragm 24 by the spring 45 encircling said stud and abutting against the washer 46 on said stud; said washer being held in place by the cotter pin 41.

The construction and arrangement above described are such that when the air compressor pump ceases its operation due to opening of the motor switch, condensate and compressed air from the after cooler outlet pipe 2, passes through the conduits 5 and 3 and inlet Hi to the diaphragm chamber 15, and discharges thecondensate from the after cooler through the port 26 into the condensate exhaust chamber I9 and out through its exhaust outlet 29. Simultaneously,

'such influx of condensate and air to the diaphragm chamber [5 flexes the diaphragm 24 against the left hand end of the stem 31 of the poppet valve 36 unseats the latter against the stress of its spring and permits influx of condensate from the bottom of the tank through the conduit 22 and inlet l8 of the valve chamber l1, under the air pressure in the tank, and into the condensate exhaust chamber l9 through the port 21 and out through said exhaust outlet 2!]; whereby, all of the condensate formed in the apparatus by compression of air, is automatically ejected therefrom, through the single exhaust outlet 20 in the valve casing l2, and by but a small quantity of the air compressed.

However, the apparatus may be otherwise constructed, arranged and controlled without departing from the essential features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for compressing air; the combination with an air compressor pump having an atmospheric air inlet and a compressed air outlet; of a condenser connected to said outlet; a compressed air storage tank; an air conduit connecting said condenser to said tank; a check valve in said conduit; a single casing, enclosing three chambers, comprising; first, a diaphragm chamber, having a fluid inlet, for condensate and air; second, a valve chamber having a fluid inlet for condensate and air; third, a condensate discharge chamber, having a continually open condensate exhaust outlet; a drain outlet conduit for condensate from the compressor and condenser, connected to the diaphragm chamber inlet; a drain outlet conduit for condensate from the bottom of the storage tank, connected to the valve chamber inlet; a flexible diaphragm separating the diaphragm chamber from the condensate discharge chamber; a first fluid port from the diaphragm chamber to the condensate discharge chamber; an open, normally stationary, but axially adjustable valve for variably limiting the efiective area of said first port; a second fluid port from the valve chamber to the condensate exhaust chamber; a valve seat in said valve chamber around said second port; an automatically operative poppet valve, in the Valve chamber and fitted to said seat, having a stem extending through said second port in cooperative relation to the diaphragm; and a spring continually stressing said poppet valve toward its seat to close the second port; whereby influx of condensate and air from the compressor and condenser through the inlet to the diaphragm chamber, discharges condensate from them through the first port into the condensate exhaust chamber and out through its exhaust outlet, and, simultaneously, flexes the diaphragm to unseat the poppet valve, against the stress of its spring, and permits influx of condensate from the tank,-under the air pressure in the tank, and into the condensate exhaust chamber and out through its exhaust outlet; whereby, all of the condensate formed in the apparatus by compression of air, is automatically ejected therefrom, through the single exhaust outlet in the single casing, and by a small quantity of the air compressed,

I 2. In apparatus for compressing air; the combination With an air compressor having an atmospheric air inlet and a compressed air outlet; of a compressed air storage tank connected to said outlet; a single casing, enclosing three chambers,

comprising; first, a diaphragm chamber, having a fluid inlet, for condensate and air; second, a valve chamber having a fluid inlet for condensate, and air; third, a condensate discharge chamber having a continually open condensate exhaust outlet; a drain outlet conduit for condensate from the compressor, connected to the diaphragm chamber inlet; a drain outlet conduit for condensate from the bottom of the storage tank, connected to the valve chamber inlet; a flexible diaphragm separating the diaphragm chamber from the condensate discharge chamber; a first fluid port from the diaphragm chamber to the condensate discharge chamber; an open, normally stationary, but adjustable valve for variably limiting the effective area of said first port; a second fluid port from the valve chamber to the condensate exhaust chamber; a valve seat in said valve chamber around said second port; an automatically operative poppet valve, in the Valve chamber and fitted to said seat, having a stem extending through the secondport in cooperative relation to the diaphragm; and a spring continually stressing said poppet valve toward its seat to close the second port; whereby influx of condensate and air from the compressor through the inlet to the diaphragm chamber, discharges condensate from the compressor through the first port into the condensate exhaust chamber and out through its exhaust outlet, and, simultaneously, flexes the diaphragm to unseat the poppet valve, against the stress of its spring, and permits influx of condensate from the tank, under the air pressure in the tank, and into the condensate exhaust chamber and out through its exhaust outlet; whereby, all of the condensate formed in the apparatus by compression of air, is automatically ejected therefrom, through the single exhaust outlet in the single casing, and by a small quantity of the air compressed.

3. In apparatus for compressing air; the combination with an air compressor having an atmospheric air inlet and a compressed air outlet; of a compressed air storage tank connected to said to the valve chamber inlet; a flexible diaphragm separating the diaphragm chamber from the condensate discharge chamber; a first fluid port from the diaphragm chamber to the condensate discharge chamber; means for variably limiting the effective area of said first port; a second fluid port from the valve chamber to the condensate exhaust chamber; an automatically operative poppet valve, in the valve chamber, having actuating means extending through the second port in cooperative relation to the diaphragm; and a spring continually stressing said poppet valve to close the second port; whereby influx of condensate and air from the compressor through the inlet to the diaphragm chamber, discharges condensate from the compressor through the first port into the condensate exhaust chamber and out through its exhaust outlet, and, simultaneously, flexes the diaphragm to unseat the poppet valve, and permits influx of condensate from the 'tank, under the air pressure inv the tank, and into the condensate exhaust chamber and out through its exhaust outlet; whereby, all of the condensate formed in the apparatus by compression of air, is automatically ejected therefrom, through the single exhaust outlet in the single casing, and by a small quantity of the air compressed.

4. In apparatus for compressing air; the combination with an air compressor having an atmospheric air inlet and a compressed air outlet; of a compressed air storage tank connected to said outlet; a single casing, enclosing three chambers, comprising; first, a diaphragm chamber, having a fluid inlet, for condensate and air; second, a valve chamber having a fluid inlet for condensate and air; third, a condensate discharge chamber having a continually open condensate exhaust outlet; a condensate drain outlet conduit from .the compressor, connected to the diaphragm chamber inlet; a condensate drain outlet conduit from the bottom of the storage tank, connected to the valve chamber inlet; a flexible diaphragm separating the diaphragm chamber from the condensate discharge chamber; a first fluid port from the diaphragm chamber to the condensate discharge chamber; a second fluid port from the valve chamber to the condenate exhaust chamber; an automatically operative poppet valve, in the valve chamber, having actuating means extending through the second port in cooperative relation to the diaphragm; and a spring continually stressing said poppet valve to close the second port; whereby influx of condensate and air from the compressor through the inlet to the diaphragm chamber, discharges condensate from the compressor through the first port into the condensate exhaust chamber and out through its exhaust outlet, and, simultaneously, flexes the diaphragm to unseat the poppet valve, and permits influx of condensate from the tank, under the air pressure in the tank, and into the condensate exhaust chamber and out through its exhaust outlet; whereby, all of the condensate formed in the apparatus by compression of air, is automatically ejected therefrom, through the single exhaust outlet in the single casing, and by a small quantity of the air compressed,

5. In apparatus for compressing air; a casing, enclosing three chambers, comprising, first, a diaphragm chamber, having a fluid inlet, for condensate and air; second, a valve chamber having a fluid inlet for condensate and air; third, a condensate discharge chamber, having a continually open condensate exhaust outlet; a flexible diaphragm separating the diaphragm chamber from the condensate discharge chamber; a first fluid port from the diaphragm chamber to the condensate discharge chamber; an open, normally stationary, but axially adjustable needle valve for variably limiting the eflective area of said first port; a second fluid port from the valve chamber to the condensate exhaust chamber; a valve seat in said valve chamber around said second port; an automatically operative poppet valve, in the valve chamber and fitted to said seat, having a stem extending through the second port in cooperative relation to the diaphragm; and a spring continually stressing said poppet valve toward its seat to close the second port.

6. In apparatus for compressing air; a casing, enclosing three chambers, comprising, first, a diaphragm chamber, having a fluid inlet; second, a valve chamber, having a fluid inlet; third, a condensate discharge chamber, having a condensate exhaust outlet; a pressure responsive diaphragm separating the diaphragm chamber from the condensate discharge chamber; a fluid port between said first and third chambers; a valve variably determining the effective area of that port; a fluid port between said second and third chambers; an automatically operative, pressure responsive, valve controlling the latter port; means operatively relating the diaphragm'to the latter valve, for opening it by fluid pressure in the diaphragm chamber; and a spring opposed to the diaphragm pressure, to close the latter valve.

7. In apparatus for compressing air; a casing, enclosing three chambers, comprising, first, a pressure responsive means chamber, having a fluid inlet; second, a valve chamber, having a fluid inlet; third, a condensate discharge chamber, having a condensate exhaust outlet; pressure responsive means in the pressure responsive chamber; a fluid port between said first and third chambers; a valve variably determining the effective area of that port; a fluid port between said valve chamber and said condensate discharge chamber; an automatically operative, pressure responsive, valve controlling the latter port; means operatively relating the pressure responsive means to the latter valve, for opening it by fluid pressure in the pressure responsive chamber; and a spring opposed to the pressure of the pressure responsive means to close the latter valve.

JAY RETSEMA. 

